Martha Raddatz Clashes with JD Vance Over Trump’s False Claims About Venezuelan Gangs in Aurora, Colorado

ABC News‘ Martha Raddatz engaged in a tense exchange with GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance on Sunday during an episode of “This Week.” The discussion centered around former President Donald Trump‘s false claims that Venezuelan gangs have invaded and taken over parts of Aurora, Colorado.

Vance stood by Trump’s assertions, despite Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, a Republican, stating that Trump’s claims were “grossly exaggerated” and had unfairly hurt the city’s identity and sense of safety. Raddatz pointed out that the incidents involving Venezuelan gang members were limited to a handful of apartment complexes and that the city’s police had addressed these concerns.

Vance argued that even if the mayor described the claims as exaggerated, it implied there was some truth to the issue. He shifted the blame to Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting her policies on border control were responsible for the problems in Aurora. “Martha, do you hear yourself? Only a handful of apartment complexes in America were taken over by Venezuelan gangs, and Donald Trump is the problem and not Kamala Harris’ open border?” Vance said.

Raddatz pushed back, emphasizing that the city had not been invaded or taken over by migrant gangs as Trump claimed. She highlighted the mayor’s statement that the incidents were confined to specific apartment complexes and were being managed by local law enforcement.

The exchange highlighted the ongoing debate over border policies and the accuracy of Trump’s statements, with Vance and Raddatz differing sharply on the interpretation of the events in Aurora.